Take the plunge in the Valley
Junior Jays are B.C. champions
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Tuesday August 9, 2011 Serving Surrey and North Delta www.surreyleader.com
Incinerator debate to resume as board plans bid call
Burning questions loom on Metro trash by Jeff Nagel METRO VANCOUVER politicians
soon face critical choices on how they pursue waste-to-energy incineration now that the province has approved the region’s solid waste plan. A key issue – to be tackled this fall – will be whether any new incinerator should be publicly owned and operated or outsourced to a private partner. A Metro-built facility would mean taxpayers pay directly for it – a price tag that could easily top $500 million – but the region would be able to sell the energy generated, offsetting much of the ongoing costs and maybe even turn a small profit. If a private partner instead finances, builds and runs the plant, Metro would avoid Greg Moore up-front costs and the risks of ownership but sign a longterm garbage-supply contract. The region would pay per-tonne garbage disposal fees, which would cover not just the construction and operating costs but also the partner’s profit margin and its potentially higher borrowing costs. Directors will likely debate whether Metro should keep the energy revenue for itself, how much that power might be worth in the future and whether Metro could scale down incineration See WASTE / Page 4
EVAN SEAL / THE LEADER
Chris Somerville is staying active in the boarding world by opening a skate shop on Scott Road and mentoring young athletes.
ROLLING in a new
DIRECTION Paralyzed in a car accident, a North Delta skateboarder doesn’t give up on his dreams
by Evan Seal
F
or Chris Somerville the evening of July 23, 2003 is difficult to remember, yet impossible to forget. It was around 10 p.m. and the athletic then-23-year-old was out enjoying a cool summer evening skateboarding and hanging out with friends. The young men had spent the afternoon perfecting some street tricks for an upcoming skate competition, and were ready to call it a night when one fellow offered them a ride to a party and then home. Although he had never met the
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driver before, his friends knew who he was and accepted the offer. Considering the distance they had to travel, a ride seemed like a great idea. After spending an hour or so at the party, they all decided it was time to head home. While driving home, the young driver took a corner onto George Ferguson Way in Abbotsford much too tight and the rear tire bumped up on the curb. Not long after, they noticed an RCMP cruiser following closely behind. Within minutes the car was surrounded by numerous police cars motioning the driver to pull over to the side of the road. See DREAMS / Page 11